A Portrait in Gouache

By luigi_pagano

Tue, 23 Jun 2020
  • 913 reads
6 comments
 
The painting, in gouache,
hangs on the study’s wall.
It portrays a man,
with a handlebar mustache,
atop a penny-farthing
with a wheel six feet tall.
I am told that he is
my great, great-grandfather.
The picture was done
the day the race took place.
At the finish, I gather,
my ancestor was third;
hence the smiling face.
High up on the saddle
he resembles a bird
about to take off.
It was one of those feats
at which we now may scoff
but when people ask
if I would have a go
at such precarious task
I say that, at that height,
I’d suffer vertigo.
 
© Luigi Pagano
Certificate U
Poem
Mutevoli pensieri

Comments

Submitted by drew_gummerson on

It's a great picture and the poem made me smile. Reminded me of Spike Milligan, who I loved. 

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Now that you mention it, Drew, I can see a vague resemblance to his style. He was a comic genius in my estimation.
Thanks for the comment,

Best, Luigi.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Enjoyed this, especially with the picture. Truly a feat too,  imagine racing on one! Rachel x

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Many thanks, Rachel.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Quite a photograph to own!

Aren't they lovely things! But I sympathise with your feeling of vertigo at the idea, even if in jest. There is a cycling museum in Llandrindod and I think they have some there. I gather that long legs were an advantage - the front wheel could be larger. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

Hi Rhiannon, I understand there were various models and perhaps different sizes. I remember seeing some penny farthings years ago in a coffee house in Knutsford, Cheshire, which had a small museum annexed.

Luigi x